Gundrilling Improves Heat Dissipation in Engine Valve Manufacturing

August 1, 2016

The DeHoff 218 4-Spindle Special from Kays Engineering, Inc. is a custom-designed gundrilling machine for producing hollow stem engine valves. Domestic and international companies have utilized the machine to manufacture valves for use in high-performance engines. A small-diameter hole is gundrilled in the stem of the engine valve and is then filled with sodium to improve the valve's heat transfer capabilities during the combustion cycle. This enables engines to achieve higher levels of fuel mileage and/or horsepower.

The 218 has a 0.25" (6.4 mm) drilling capacity and an 18" (457 mm) drilling depth. It has four drilling spindles on a single machine base, and utilizes precision chucks and workpiece counter-rotation. The machine also has a magazine loader and servo-driven gantry automation system.

The machine features a heavy-duty design that incorporates a cast iron drill head base with hardened and ground steel box ways, plus hand-scraped and fitted saddle, gibs, and straps (versus linear guideways and milled surfaces). This results in enhanced vibration damping, extended tool life and improved hole accuracy and surface finish. Standard elements on the DeHoff 218 include a high-pressure coolant system, Beckhoff controls and a full machine enclosure.

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